Cam operated master slide



April 2, 1963 B. w. w|| s 3,083,760

CAM OPERATED MASTER SLIDE Filed Jan. 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BOB W. WILLS W @M ,74M

ATTORNEVS B. W. WILLS April 2, 1963 CAM OPERATED MASTER SLIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1960 ATTORNEVS rates This invention relates to traverse rod structure and particularly to a master slide for use on and with a traverse rod which will hold the curtains or drapery in substantially coplanar alignment with respect to each other when same are open, which will hold same closely against each other when same are overlapped in closed position but which will avoid interference between said curtains as the same approach each other in going rorn open to a closed position.

In conventional master slide construction for traverse rods, it is customary to offset either or both of said slides stnficiently that they and the curtains carried thereby will clear each other as said slides are moving the curtains from an open to an overlapped, closed, position. This is generally satisfactory but it requires some offsetting of the curtains with respect to each other. Thus, since the overlapping portions of the curtains are in such cases offset with respect to each other sufficiently that there is no interference between said curtains as they move from open into an overlapped closed position, the curtains are often spaced sufficiently from each other that they are quite unsightly when in a closed position in view of the space existing between them. Further, since the line or" support for the slides is in a single straight line, namely, the traverse rod track, it necessarily means that one or both of said master slides will have the weight of the curtain offset from a position directly below the point of support of said slides. This is not harmful in curtains of relatively light weight, but it is more serious in larger and heavier curtains. In such latter cases, there is often suflicient twisting of the master slide as to cause undesirable wear on the portions thereof engaging the traverse rod track and undesirable drag in the operating of the curtains.

ccordingly, the objects of the invention are:

(1) To provide a pair of master slides for a traverse rod construction which will hold curtains in substantially coplanar alignment while same are in open position, which will move at least one thereof sidewardly away from the other to provide clearance between said curtains as they are moving from an open into an overlapped position and which will then close said curtains against each other when the overlapped position is obtained to promote a smooth and uninterrupted appearance on the part of said overlapped curtains.

(2) To provide a device, as aforesaid, which will onable both of said curtains to be suspended substantially below a supporting track of the traverse rod structure in substantially all open and closed positions thereof.

(3) To provide master slides for a traverse rod, as aforesaid, which will move one edge of at least one of a pair of normally coplanar curtains laterally with respect to the facing edge of the other curtain as said curtains are approac ring each other and then when they have attained an overlapped, closed, position will close said curtains tightly against each other.

(4) To provide master slide construction for traverse rods which will function automatically, as aforesaid, as said master slides are moved toward each other and as they attain overlapping relationship with respect to each other.

(5) To provide master slides for traverse rods, as aforesaid, which will be sufficiently simple as to be capable of relatively economic construction and will require a minimum of maintenance.

Patented Apr. 2, 1963 ice (6) To provide master slide construction for traverse rods, as aforesaid, wherein the movements aforesaid can be accomplished without imposing appreciable additional drag upon the movement of the master slides.

(7) To provide master slide construction, as aforesaid, which will not look appreciably different from the master slides in previous common use and wherein. the manner of fastening the curtains to said slides will be the same as in previous common use.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with devices of this general type upon reading the following specification and examination of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FlGURE 1 is an oblique view of a traverse rod construction carrying the master slide of the invention shown partially in phantom, and with the master slides shown in overlapped relationship.

FIGURE 2 is a back view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top partially broken view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view similar to that of FIG- URE 3 but showing the slides partially separated with respect to each other.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on the line VIVI of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an oblique view taken from the back of the structure of FIGURE 1 but showing the slides in fully separated position with respect to each other.

Definitions For the purpose of convenience in reference the following definitions will apply:

The term forward or front shall refer to the portion facing away from the wall in normal use: of the apparatus, the same being the side seen in FIGURE 1. The term rearward or backward will refer to the part facing toward the wall and normal use of the traverse rod, the same being the side appearing in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The terms upward and downward will refer to upward and downward directions of the parts in their normal position of use. The terms rightward and leftward will refer to the directions rightwardly and leftwardly as appearing in the drawings and particularly with respect to a given drawing to which reference is made when and as the terms are used.

Each of these terms will include derivatives of the words above specifically mentioned as well as words of similar import.

General Description In general, the invention consists in providing master slides having curtain-supporting members normally positioned substantially below the point of support of the master slides on the traverse rod tracks and coplanar with respect to each other. One portion of at least one curtain-supporting member is jointed to move laterally and thereby offset its leading edge laterally from the opposed leading edge of the other curtain-supporting member. Cam structure is provided interacting between said master slides and opposed by resilient means whereby said jointed section will normally lie coplanar with the remaining portion of the member of which it is a part but will move outwardly as above mentioned as the two slides approach each other and as the curtain-supporting members enter overlapped position with respect to each other.

Detailed Description Turning now to the detailed construction of apparatus illustrated in the drawings and embodying the invention,

mention is first made of the traverse rod with which said master slides are used. It will be recognized that there are several forms of traverse rods with which said slides may advantageously be used so that the choice of the particular traverse rod structure here used to illustrate the invention will be recognized as illustrative only and not limiting.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a traverse rod member 1 having a generally oval shape and wherein one side is interrupted to provide the coplanar tracks 2 and 3. The other traverse rod member 4 is slidably received into the first traverse rod member 1 in a conventional manner. An end bracket 6 is indicated for holding said traverse rod structure in a desired position upon a wall in the usual manner.

The leftward master slide 7 is slidably supported within the traverse rod structure and cooperates with the rightward slide structure 8 which is similarly slidably supported within said traverse rod structure. Each of said slides carries an end of the curtains supported by the traverse rod and is caused to move toward and away from each other in a known manner by traverse-controlling mechanism not here shown. The specific structure of said controlling mechanism forms no part of the present invention, is well known to the industry and hence has been omitted from both the drawings and the description thereof in order to avoid unnecessarily complicating this disclosure.

Looking now at the leftward slide 7 in more detail, and referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 7 for showing opposite ends of said member, it will be seen that said slide includes a plate portion 9 which carries slides 11 and 12 which slides are of any convenient material, such as nylon, and are received into the slot defined by the edges or tracks 2 and 3- of the traverse rod. A curtain-carrying portion 13 extends downwardly from the plate portion 9 and is provided with a plurality of openings 14 and 15 (FIGURE 2) by which the curtain is hung onto the master slide 7 in the usual manner.

Extending rearwardly from the plate portion 9 is the cam portion 16 which is of somewhat V-shape with V the V portion opening forwardly. Said cam portion 16 has an opening 17 extending therethrough at the apex of the V and located at a point substantially spaced from each end of the cam section 16.

Turning now to the master slide 8, this comprises a body portion 21 (best shown in FIGURE 7) which is supported within the track of the traverse rod by the slides 22 and 23 which slides will normally be identical with the slides 11 and 12. Said body portion 21 is provided with tabs 26 and 27 (see also FIGURE 6) extending rearwardly therefrom, said tabs being spaced vertically from each other and being both arranged sub stantially perpendicular with the plane of the body portion 21.

The curtain-carrying arm 28 of the rightward slide 8 is provided with openings 29 and 30 (FIGURE 1) for the reception of curtain hooks in the usual manner and has a U-shaped mounting portion 31 (FIGURES 1, and 6) at that end thereof which is rightward in FIG- URE 1 and leftward in FIGURE 5. Said U-shaped mounting portion 31 extends between the flanges 26 and a provide a generally rounding shape as best appearing in FIGURES 4 and 7.

A spring 42 is anchored at 43 to the body portion 21 of the rightward slide 8 then bends around the pivot portion 37 and is anchored at 44 (FIGURES 5 and 6) to the movable arm portion 28 of said rightward slide 8.

The limiting tab 46 (FIGURES 3 and 7) is provided on one flange, here the lower flange, of the U-shaped member 3-1 and is arranged to strike against an adjacent portion of the body part 21. Thus, the rotation of the arm 28 about the pivot 37 in response to the urging of the spring 42 is limited at such a point that the arm 28 is substantially parallel with and offset slightly from the curtain-supporting portion 14 of the leftward slide 7 (FIGURE 3).

Operation Starting with the master slides separated as shown in FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the arm 28 is substantially parallel with the transverse rod so that the adjacent edges of curtains carried on said master slides will be very close to coplanar with respect to each other. As the slides approach each other the cam follower 41 engages the forward surface of the cam 16 and rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7. This rotates the arm 28 around the pivot member 37 and against the resiliency of the spring 42 to occupy the position shown in FIGURE 5 (where, inasmuch as this is viewed from the under side as compared to FIGURE 7 which latter is viewed in part from the upper side, it is shown as having completed a clockwise rotation). This separates the adjacent edges of the curtains by a substantial margin so that there is no interference of either by the other as the slides continue to approach each other.

When the slides attain their fully closed position, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the cam follower 41 encounters the opening 17 and is able then to respond to the urging of spring 42 and move again until the tab 46 terminates such movement and the arm 28 is again parallel with the traverse rod and in overlapping relationship with the curtain-carrying part 13 of the leftward slide 7 (as best shown in FIGURE 3). The curtains are now overlapped but lying closely together so that there is no discernible space between them.

In opening the curtains, the above-described action is reversed and no appreciable drag exists between the over lapped portions of the curtains as the same are opened.

Thus, the action is direct and simple and is fully capable of accomplishing the objectives of the invention as set forth above.

Although a particular, preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of the above disclosure are contemplated unless specifically stated to the contrary in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A curtain supporting structure, comprising:

an elongated traverse rod;

a first master slide mounted for sliding movement on said rod and including a curtain-supporting portion;

a second master slide mounted for sliding movement on said traverse rod, said second master slide including a first portion mounted for sliding movement on said rod and a second, curtain-supporting portion disposed below said traverse rod and movable into overlapping relationship with said curtain-supporting portion of said first master slide, said second portion being mounted on said first portion for hori zontal pivotal movement sidewardly with respect to said first portion toward and away from said traverse rod between a first position wherein said second portion extends substantially longitudinally of said rod and a second position wherein said second portion is inclined away from said traverse rod; spring means connected between said first and second portions of said second master slide for normally holding said second portion in said first position; means including cam means and cam follower means on said first master slide and said second portion aosarso of said second master slide and engageable when said curtain-supporting portions of said slides are approaching overlapping relationship for pivoting said second portion of said second master slide with respect to said first portion and into said second position, said cam having an interruption therein which is aligned with said cam follower when said slides are overlapped for freeing said second portion for movement into said first position thereof, said spring means being effective for moving said second portion of said second master slide toward said traverse rod and into said first position when said cam follower is aligned with said interruption and said curtain-supporting portions are in their overlapped position.

2. A traverse rod construction comprising:

a traverse rod having an elongated track therein;

a first master slide slidably mounted in said track and including a curtain-supporting portion;

a second master slide slidably mounted in said track for reciprocation therealong toward and away from said first master slide, said second master slide including a first portion slidably engaging said track and a second, curtain-supporting portion mounted on said first portion for sideward movement with respect to said rod in a horizontal plane between a first posi tion wherein said second portion is adjacent to said rod and a second position wherein said second portion is remote from said rod, said second portion being disposed below said rod;

biasing means on said second master slide normally maintaining said second, curtain-supporting portion of said second master slide in said first position;

cam means and cam follower means arranged between said first master slide and said second, curtain-supporting portion of said second master slide for moving said second portion into said second position when said master slides approach into close proximity with respect to each other, and means for disengaging said cam means and said cam follower means when said curtain-supporting portions are overlapped;

said biasing means returning said second, curtain-supporting portion of said second master slide into said first position when said cam means and cam follower means are disengaged.

3. A traverse rod construction comprising:

a traverse rod having an elongated track;

a first master slide having a body portion, slide means supporting said body portion for sliding movement along said track and a depending portion substantially parallel with said track, said depending portion having means for supporting a curtain thereon;

a second master slide having a body portion, slide means supporting said body portion for sliding movement along said track and a depending portion, said depending portion of said second master slide being substantially coplanar with said depending portion of said first master slide;

an arm having means for supporting a portion of a curtain thereon, said arm being disposed below said rod and being pivotably mounted on the depending portion of said second master slide for movement with respect to said second master slide between a first position wherein said arm is substantially parallel with the lengthwise extent of said rod and a second position wherein said arm extends at an angle to said rod;

cam follower means connected to said arm;

spring means on said second master slide and connected to said arm for constantly urging said arm into said first position;

cam means on said first master slide and positioned to actuate said cam follower means as said master slides approach into close proximity with respect to each other and to move said arm from said first position into said second position, and means for disengaging said cam means from said cam follower means both when said slides are separated substantially from each other and when they are in position with respect to each other corresponding to the fully closed position of said curtains, whereby said spring means may thereupon move said arm from said second position into said first position.

4. A traverse rod construction comprising:

a traverse rod having an elongated track;

a first master slide having a body portion, slide means supporting said body portion for sliding movement along said track and a depending portion substantially parallel with said track, said depending portion having means for supporting a curtain thereon;

a second master slide having a body portion, slide means supporting said body portion for sliding movement along said track and a depending portion, said depending portion of said second master slide being substantially coplanar with the depending portion of said first master slide;

a pair of vertically spaced tabs extending sidewardly from the depending portion of said second master slide;

an arm having curtain-supporting means thereon and having a U-shaped section at one end thereof, the flanges of said U-shaped section being inserted between said table for support and guidance thereby;

cam follower means having a pivot member fixed rigidly on and to the flanges of said U-shaped section, said pivot member being pivotably connected to said tabs, said arm being pivotable with respect to said tabs together with said cam follower means and said pivot member between a. first position wherein said arm is substantially parallel with the lengthwise extent of said rod and a second position wherein said arm is inclined away from said rod;

a cam supported on and by said first master slide and extending toward said second master slide, said cam being arranged to engage said cam follower means to move said arm to said second position as said first and second master slides approach into close proximity with respect to each other;

spring means connected to said depending portion of said second master slide and to said arm for constantly urging said arm into said first position;

and means for disengaging said cam means and said cam follower means when said depending portion of said first master slide and said curtain supporting means of said arm are overlapped wherein said curtains are fully closed;

whereby said arm is moved away from said rod into said second position as said master slides approach into close proximity with respect to each other, said arm being held by said spring means in said first position both when said master slides are separated substantially from each other and when they are in position with respect to each other corresponding to the fully closed position of said curtains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,086 Werner et al Nov. 20, 1951 2,861,632 Rosenbaum Nov. 25, 1958 2,942,659 Stephens June 28, 1960 

1. A CURTAIN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED TRAVERSE ROD; A FIRST MASTER SLIDE MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ON SAID ROD AND INCLUDING A CURTAIN-SUPPORTING PORTION; A SECOND MASTER SLIDE MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ON SAID TRAVERSE ROD, SAID SECOND MASTER SLIDE INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ON SAID ROD AND A SECOND, CURTAIN-SUPPORTING PORTION DISPOSED BELOW SAID TRAVERSE ROD AND MOVABLE INTO OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CURTAIN-SUPPORTING PORTION OF SAID FIRST MASTER SLIDE, SAID SECOND PORTION BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST PORTION FOR HORIZONTAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT SIDEWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST PORTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID TRAVERSE ROD BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID SECOND PORTION EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID ROD AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID SECOND PORTION IS INCLINED AWAY FROM SAID TRAVERSE ROD; SPRING MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND MASTER SLIDE FOR NORMALLY HOLDING SAID SECOND PORTION IN SAID FIRST POSITION; MEANS INCLUDING CAM MEANS AND CAM FOLLOWER MEANS ON SAID FIRST MASTER SLIDE AND SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SECOND MASTER SLIDE AND ENGAGEABLE WHEN SAID CURTAIN-SUPPORTING PORTIONS OF SAID SLIDES ARE APPROACHING OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP FOR PIVOTING SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SECOND MASTER SLIDE WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST PORTION AND INTO SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID CAM HAVING AN INTERRUPTION THEREIN WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH SAID CAM FOLLOWER WHEN SAID SLIDES ARE OVERLAPPED FOR FREEING SAID SECOND PORTION FOR MOVEMENT INTO SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE FOR MOVING SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SECOND MASTER SLIDE TOWARD SAID TRAVERSE ROD AND INTO SAID FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID CAM FOLLOWER IS ALIGNED WITH SAID INTERRUPTION AND SAID CURTAIN-SUPPORTING PORTIONS ARE IN THEIR OVERLAPPED POSITION. 